Flanders sets new emission limits for forges and foundries

The Flemish Government decreed, on September 18, 2026, the amendment of Title III of VLAREM of May 16, 2014, which transposes into Flemish law the conclusions on the best available techniques for forges and foundries. The decree, signed in Brussels and published in the Belgian Official Gazette No. 252 of November 5, 2026 (p. 59258 for the Dutch version, p. 59300 for the French version, reference C − 2026/007902), adds a chapter 3.22 comprising articles 3.22.1.1 to 3.22.5.6.1. The text partially transposes Commission implementing decision (EU) 2024/2974 of November 29, 2024, adopted under directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions.

A scope based on the classification list

Chapter 3.22 targets classified establishments and activities falling under headings 20.2.3, 3°, 20.2.4, a), 3° and b), 3°, 29.5.1 and 3.6.7 of the classification list, namely the IPPC activities of points 2.3, b), 2.4, 2.5, b) and 6.11 of the annex to the same decree.

Ferrous metal foundries using continuous casting for grey or ductile iron parts.
Non-ferrous metal foundries working from alloy ingots, scrap, recovered products, or liquid metal.
Combined wastewater treatment when the pollutant load originates mainly from these activities.
Coating of molds and cores, storage and handling of materials, including scrap and sand.
Directly associated combustion processes, if the gases are in direct contact with the materials.

Excluded are the continuous casting of iron and steel, non-ferrous semi-finished products, the coating of foundry parts, forging presses, water from indirect cooling circuits, rolling, and conventional combustion plants. Additional provisions for foundries do not apply to cadmium, titanium, or precious metal foundries, nor to bell or art foundries.

Numerical limit values per process

The chapter sets limits for channeled emissions, measured at least once a year, while dioxins and furans remain subject to article 5.29.0.6, § 1, of Title II of VLAREM.

Finishing: dust 5 mg/Nm³.
Heat treatment: dust 5 mg/Nm³, NOx 120 mg/Nm³ (derogation up to 300 mg/Nm³ above 1,000 °C, excluding electric furnaces).
Cores, molds and investment casting: dust 5, amines 2.5, benzene 2, formaldehyde 2, phenol 2, TOC 50 mg C/Nm³.
Permanent mold casting: dust 5, lead 0.1 (plumbing), TOC 50 mg C/Nm³.
Sand reclamation: dust 5, TOC 20, NOx 140, SO2 100 mg/Nm³.
Cupolas: HCl 30, HF 3, dust 7 (5 for induction, rotary and arc furnaces), NOx from 70 to 160 depending on the blast, SO2 from 50 to 150, lead 0.1, dioxins 0.08 ng WHO2005-TEQ/Nm³.
Energy in iron foundries: from 1,750 kWh/t of liquid metal (cold blast cupola) to 950 kWh/t (rotary furnace), 150 kWh/t for ladle preheating.
Forges: 6,500 kWh/t of incoming material on annual average and NOx 250 mg/Nm³ for heating, reheating and heat treatment, with a derogation to 350 mg/Nm³ for regenerative or recuperative burners.

Dust from a cupola with a mass flow exceeding 500 g/h must be measured continuously. Twelve articles may be subject to derogations in the environmental permit, in application of the applicability provisions of the BAT conclusions.

Partial transposition and timetable

BAT 8 (noise and vibration management plan) and BAT 32 (odor management plan), deemed too conditional, are not included and will be examined on a case-by-case basis during general evaluations; BAT 33, relating to measurement standards, is also not transposed. Furthermore, the decree replaces the word “energy audits” with “audits” in articles 3.18.2.6.1, 3.20.2.2.1, 3.20.2.5.1 and 3.21.2.4.2, to avoid confusion with the energy audit of the energy decree of November 19, 2010.

The legislation section of the Council of State issued opinion 79.588/1 on July 17, 2026, after examining the draft on July 7 by a chamber composed of Pierre Lefranc, Brecht Steen, Tim Corthaut, Michel Tison and Eline Yoshimi, based on the report of Lennart Nijs. It notably pointed out that the report to the Flemish Government did not sufficiently demonstrate the absence of significant effects on the environment within the meaning of Directive 2001/42/EC and recommended completing the justification.

New units are those authorized for the first time on the site after December 6, 2024, or resulting from a complete replacement after this date. Existing units must comply with the new provisions by December 6, 2028, at the latest, a four-year deadline resulting from Article 21, paragraph 3, of Directive 2010/75/EU.

Scope for operators

The decree charges the Flemish minister competent for the environment and nature with its execution. Specifically, foundries and forges active in Flanders will have to have their environmental permits revised and, in most cases, adapt their capture, dedusting, and gas treatment installations before the end of 2028: derogations remain possible, but they must be justified in each permit and based on the emission level tables associated with the BATs.

Source: Belgian Official Gazette No. 252 of November 5, 2026, p. 59258 and 59300, decree of the Flemish Government of September 18, 2026, reference C − 2026/007902.